A Home in the Country?

Transcription

1 A Home in the Country? Life in Adams County Country Wisdom What are some things you need to know before moving to the country? Read on and find out!

2 2 A Land of Surprises The morning began well enough. The sunrise over the orchard was spectacular and so peaceful. It was a welcome reminder of why we moved to the country in the first place. That evening, we were having friends over for dinner, six of them. We arrived home from work and heard our water pump roaring like a jet. Of course, we had no water. Then there was yesterday s little surprise: a tax bill. A mistake! I roared. I paid my taxes four months ago. It s not time for another bill yet. Here s today s surprise, I thought as I studied the pump. I made a hasty call to the hardware store, which is 20 minutes away. Closing time was in 10 minutes, but the owner stayed open so I could pick up the parts needed and even took the time to give me clear instructions on how to complete the job at home. It was a pleasant surprise. Dinner was only an hour late; the neighborly store owner helped keep disaster at bay. I wish I had followed my friend Bob s advice when I told him we were leaving the city for the country. You ll love it, he said. But the surprises are in the details. There were just too many details. That s why we moved back to the city.

3 Well, I ve learned two details in two days, I mused. Number one, my water supply comes from a hole in my back yard, and it s my money that keeps it flowing. Second, my taxes come in installments. Besides the taxes taken from my paycheck, there are municipal, county, and school taxes, billed at different times and they can be for thousands of dollars. Well, I can still learn, I guess, and I m still glad we moved to the country, but I wish I d known about these little details ahead of time. 3 Buying a Country House Many houses across Adams County are relatively old, a century or more. They are lovely places. Some are in good repair. Others have a lot of potential or need a little fixing up. Before buying, it s a good idea to have a reputable inspector check out major systems in the house, such as plumbing, electrical, heating, appliances, the septic system, the well, and the roof. Also, before making any major repairs it is best to check with your local municipality for any required permits. This can help stave off some of the surprises that make country living a challenge. Forewarned is, well, forewarned. Local Government Government Structure. Pennsylvania has a localized government structure where decisions are made by elected officials in over 2,500

4 cities, townships, and boroughs. There are 21 townships and 13 boroughs in Adams County. Permitting and decisions on utilities and facilities are often made by other governmental bodies, including state agencies, counties, special districts, and water and sewer authorities. Because the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vests so much power in local government, ordinances and regulations can be very different from place to place. The most common forms of local government in Pennsylvania and Adams County are boroughs and second class townships, often referred to as municipalities. Boroughs are the older more urban areas in the case of Adams County, our small towns. Townships were traditionally agricultural areas but many have evolved into suburban areas with both residential and commercial development. Each township or borough has the power to govern its residents through permits, zoning, ordinances, and other tools. This may be important to you, so you need to check on how the municipality handles its affairs. Information on contacting municipalities can be found at the back of this brochure. 4 Road Care. The township or borough cares for locally-owned roads, including snow plowing, repairing potholes, roadside brush removal, and road safety signs. PennDOT, the State Department of Transportation, maintains state-owned roads. Unfortunately for you, snow from the

5 road will probably be pushed into the end of your driveway. This is not malicious. It s just the way snow plows work. You re responsible for removing the snow from your driveway. Here s a helpful tip: put the snow on the right side of your driveway as you face the road to keep the plow from pushing it back where you ve cleaned. Please don t endanger others by throwing snow into the road. In some places, it s illegal! The road you live on may not be a public road. If it is part of a newlyconstructed neighborhood, the private developer is usually required to maintain the road for a year or more before offering it to the borough or township. If the developer fails to maintain the road, the municipality may take enforcement action. Land Use and Building Permits. Local governments regulate land use: how your property is subdivided, what can be constructed on it and how. If you re planning to change the size of your property, how it s used, or if you want to add a structure, contact your local municipality. You ll probably need to submit an application for planning or zoning approval. Every municipality requires a building permit, so if you re planning to construct, demolish or renovate structures on your property, be sure to check the requirements first. In Pennsylvania, zoning law requires adjacent property owners to be notified about any request for a zoning change on a neighboring property, so you might be invited to make comment on a zoning application by attending a public hearing. This is an optional activity, but consider it as an opportunity to stay informed about local development. Burning. Check with the Adams County Office of Planning & Development, your municipal office, and your local fire company about burning regulations before you burn. State law prohibits open burning of waste materials without a permit. One exemption is the burning of domestic (residential) refuse by two families or less occupying the same dwelling. Refuse does not include furniture, mattresses, tires, construction debris, appliances, etc. Domestic refuse must be burned in a container with an approved cover and the County Fire Prevention Bureau Ordinance regulates property setbacks, burn times and required notifications. 5

6 Also in Pennsylvania, there is a regulation prohibiting malodors from activities other than agriculture, as well as a prohibition for smoke crossing over property boundaries. Some townships prohibit any type of burning. If you plan to have a permitted controlled burn, notify the Non-Emergency Center ( ) in advance to prevent an unnecessary dispatch of fire apparatus which you might have to pay for. Never burn when it is dry or windy. Keep a hose nearby and use a container covered with a grate. Setting your neighbor s property on fire won t make you popular and could result in legal action or a fine. Weeds. The municipality has authority concerning weeds and invasive plant species. If your property becomes unkempt, you may receive a notice requiring you to cut it or to remove plants of concern. Taxes You will be entered into the real property tax rolls when your deed is recorded. To be sure that you re entered properly on the tax rolls, call the Adams County Tax Services Department at If your lender on your house is collecting funds in an escrow account for real estate taxes, it is your responsibility to send the tax bill to the lender for timely payment. Property owners can expect to receive two tax notices. The first tax bill, issued in March, is for county and local government taxes combined on one tax bill. The largest is the school real estate property tax sent out in July by the county s six school districts School districts and municipalities also tax your earned income. Most assess an earned income tax which is levied similar to federal and state income taxes through payroll withholding. One school district Bermudian Springs levies an occupational assessment tax paid by all persons who live in the district. You ll file your earned income tax return with your federal and state income taxes by April 15 of each year. 6

7 Another tax assessed by some school districts and municipalities is a per capita tax. The levy ranges from $2 to $10 and is assessed on persons 18 years and older. Municipalities can also levy an emergency and municipal services tax of up to $52 per year on people who work within their jurisdictions. This tax helps recoup the costs of services that boroughs and townships provide for non-residents and is collected through payroll withholding. Schools Adams County has six public school districts. There also are a number of private schools. The Gettysburg Adams Chamber of Commerce has information about private schools. The school bus routes and schedules are individually set by each school district. Academic activities, sporting events, drama, and music all make these schools places where you can meet your friends and neighbors. Septic Systems If you live in a borough or a large development in a township, you may have public sewer service. If you live in the country, your house probably has an on-site sewage treatment system. This septic system has three components: septic tank, distribution system, and absorption field. Some of these components are underground and may be hidden. Find them and keep a record of their location. Things may seem to be working normally, but invisible problems could develop if you don t maintain the system. Septic Tank. Unless you have sewer service, all wastewater from your home must be directed to the septic tank. Septic tanks prevent clogging of the absorption field bed by holding back grease, grit, and solids. That s why it s important to pump the tank every two to three years. It can be really costly to repair or replace a system, so make sure you pump regularly. Some municipalities may require regular pumping. Contact your township to see if this is required. Beware of additives that claim pumping is unnecessary. Pumping typically costs about $200. For a list of area septic haulers, contact the Adams County Office of Planning & Development. 7

8 Here s a helpful hint: Don t dump grease, paints, oil, solvents, chemicals, unused medications, or other hazardous materials into your system unless you have deep pockets and like to see your yard full of construction equipment. Installing, repairing or replacing your septic system requires a permit from your local Sewage Enforcement Officer (SEO). Contact your municipal office for the name of your SEO. A permit is not required for routine maintenance like tank pumping or distribution pipe flushing. Water Systems Where city water is unavailable, water systems are made up of a well, pump, pressure tank, and plumbing. Depending on how deep the well is, the pump may be inside the house (shallow) or at the bottom of the well (deep). Pumps and pressure tanks usually last about 10 years. You may want to have your well inspected to make sure it has enough flow to supply your household needs. 8 There are no regulations governing private water well quality. It s your responsibility to maintain your well. At a minimum, you should have a total coliform bacteria test done each year. You also can have tests

9 9 done for metals and other contaminants. The Adams County Conservation District does these tests for a fee. You should protect your well by practicing good sanitation in your yard: 1) make sure your well is located the required distance from your septic system; 2) keep oil, gasoline, pesticides, fertilizer, and other chemicals away from it; 3) to prevent fecal contamination, clean up after your pets. More information on well protection can be obtained through Penn State Cooperative Extension in Adams County. If you are on a well, even when there s enough rain, it s a good idea to practice water conservation. In times of drought, you ll be glad you learned to stretch your water use to lessen the chance that your well might run dry. And no matter what type of water service you have, rain barrels are a great way to capture and reuse rain. The Adams County Conservation District can show you how to make and maintain your rain barrel. If you must drill a new well, contact the Adams County Conservation District for information standards. Trash Removal Trash Collection. There are no waste disposal facilities in Adams County. Check with your local municipality to see if there is a contracted trash hauler for your municipality. You may have to contact the hauler directly to arrange to have your trash removed. The Adams County Office of Planning & Development maintains a list of haulers serving the area. The cost ranges from $116 to $345 a year.

10 Large items, such as old furniture, appliances, and tires may be removed as part of a municipal trash collection contract or once a year by the muncipality. Contact your municipal office for more information. You can also contact the Office of Planning & Development for more information on disposing of these items. Recycling. Pennsylvania law currently requires recycling in some municipalities depending on their size. In Adams County, recycling is required in Gettysburg Borough, Conewago Township and Oxford Township. Recycling programs vary by municipality. Some have contracts with trash haulers who provide recycling as part of the contract and others provide this service for a fee. Additionally, the Adams Rescue Mission serves some municipalities by conducting free drop-off and curbside recycling for county residents and businesses. Contact the Adams County Office of Planning & Development for a list of recycling programs, dates, times, and accepted materials. If you d like to try backyard composting to reduce your waste, contact Penn State Cooperative Extension in Adams County. It s rewarding to compost and it s a great way to improve your garden. Emergency Services The Adams County Department of Emergency Services is responsible for direction and control of all emergencies in the county. It also is responsible for operating the Adams County Communications Center. This emergency dispatch center processes all 911, police, fire, and ambulance calls from across the county. Remember, emergency personnel can find you more quickly if your address number is clearly visible. Place 3-inch reflective plain numbers on both sides of your mailbox or yard sign or beneath a light fixture on the front of the house. All municipalities have laws requiring address numbering and can help you get approved address signs. Police services may be provided by municipal police departments or, if the township or borough doesn t have a police department, by the Pennsylvania State Police. In areas with part-time local forces, the state police provide coverage when local police are off duty. Check with your municipality to see who provides police protection in your area. 10

11 11 Fire protection in Adams County is provided by volunteer fire companies. They are funded primarily through donations and fundraisers, and usually receive only minimal support from your tax dollars. You can expect to receive a solicitation notice once a year. In addition, many companies sponsor meals and other social activities that allow you to support the fire company and get to meet some of your neighbors. Better yet, consider becoming involved as a volunteer there are many ways to help besides fighting fires. Some fire companies have an associated ambulance service that works cooperatively with a medic unit from Gettysburg Hospital. Contact your municipal office to determine which fire company and ambulance services cover your area. Agriculture Agriculture is a major industry in Adams County, which ranks first in the state for apple and peach production. We also rank high in livestock, poultry, and dairy products. Farmland creates open space and adds interest, variety, and beauty to the landscape. This may have been what attracted you here in the first place. To maintain these areas, it is important to preserve farmland and keep agriculture profitable.

12 12 Check out the Adams Local Food Resource Guide ( for ways to support your local farmers. This guide is produced by the Adams County Food Policy Council. Apple blossoms are pretty, but the fruit that follows has many enemies, such as fungi, insects, hail, and drought. The grower protects the crop whenever possible, including the use of crop protection sprays to hold pest populations in check. Growers must follow the law when spraying. They keep records, including dates, amounts, and locations. Spraying is done when needed, often outside of normal work hours. Expect to see and hear tractors and sprayers at various times of the day. Dairy cows are a sight to see as they graze in a pasture on a sunny morning. What would Thanksgiving be without a turkey? These animals make appetizing contributions to our daily diet. The less pleasant side of raising livestock and poultry is the manure they produce. Manure handling is a necessity for fertilizing fields on farms and sometimes causes odors and flies. Most farmers must use public roads to move farm equipment and crops between fields. Be cautious when passing farm machinery on the road. Always watch carefully to make sure the machinery is not about to turn left and there are no oncoming vehicles before you pass. Losing a few minutes on the road is a small price to pay for safety and for the other benefits of living in a rural community. Pennsylvania has laws protecting the right to farm. Agricultural Security Areas are intended to promote the viability of our ag industry and mitigate the impact of development in rural areas. Participating farmers are entitled to special consideration from local government regulations regarding farming activities, and protection from nuisance challenges, thus encouraging the continued use of the land for productive agricultural purposes. New residents unfamiliar with farm operations soon learn that farming produces sights, smells, and sounds that they may not have experienced in urban settings. Difficulties or worries associated with manure and crop sprays are best handled among friends instead of in court. If you are thinking about living next to a farm or orchard, why not take a plate of cookies over to your farm neighbor and say hello. Knowing your farm neighbors makes

13 it more likely that they will listen to your concerns about the farm operation and prevents problems from becoming intense community conflicts. Many farmers are willing to give you a call before they spray or spread manure, so you can bring in the laundry and the kids. You also can help maintain neighborly relations with the farmers around you by respecting their property rights as much as you expect them to respect yours. Farms are private property and you should not be on farmland unless the owner has specifically given you the right to use it. Riding motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, or snowmobiles through fields can damage soil and crops. Shopping Adams County has a variety of good shopping opportunities, ranging from small shops to large national stores. But if you re living out in the country, don t expect to have a store down at the corner. You may have to drive 20 minutes or a half an hour for shopping. It s a good idea to plan your shopping trips, and you may want to consider stocking up on goods to avoid running out at an inconvenient time. Many of our towns have wonderful specialty shops not to be missed! Public Utilities In Adams County, Met Ed, a First Energy Company, distributes electricity to about two-thirds of homes and businesses. The Adams Electric Cooperative distributes electricity to customers that Met Ed doesn t serve. Allegheny Power serves a very small portion of southwestern Adams County. Other utility companies include local telephone service provided by Century Link; cable television for most of the county by Comcast; satellite television and broadband services by general providers. Check with the Chamber of Commerce for information; and natural gas to parts of the county by Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania. Several companies also provide propane gas supplies. Pennsylvania law requires that you call or 811, three business days before you dig anywhere that there may be a buried utility line. Since the facilities are buried they may be hidden in surprising locations on your property. All utility companies are notified with this 13

14 One Call system and will advise you if you are planning to dig close to a buried line. For more information, visit 14 Helpful Reading The Joys of Farm Watching Here s everything you ever wanted to know about farms, equipment, livestock, crops, and more in a fun take-off on bird-watchers guides. So, You Live Near An Orchard; Hog Farm; Dairy Farm; Chicken Farm These extension fact sheets can help you understand what to expect if you decide to purchase a home in a farming area. Country Living: A Homeowner s Guide This extension booklet details wells and septic tanks and briefly outlines local government. Available from Penn State Cooperative Extension in Adams County The University is committed to equal access to programs, facilities, admission and employment for all persons. It is the policy of the University to maintain an environment free of harassment and free of discrimination against any person because of age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, marital or family status, pregnancy, pregnancyrelated conditions, physical or mental disability, gender, perceived gender, gender identity, genetic information or political ideas. Discriminatory conduct and harassment, as well as sexual misconduct and relationship violence, violates the dignity of individuals, impedes the realization of the University s educational mission, and will not be tolerated. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to Dr. Kenneth Lehrman III, Vice Provost for Affirmative Action, Affirmative Action Office, The Pennsylvania State University, 328 Boucke Building, University Park, PA , kfl2@psu.edu, Tel (814) This publication is available in alternative media on request.

15 15 Important Contact Information Local Government The Adams County website, has comprehensive upto-date information for each township and borough, including a listing of elected officials, meeting dates and municipal office hours. Or you can call the County Office of Planning and Development at (717) for the same information. Other Helpful Agencies The Adams Rescue Mission Recycling Center 2515 York Road, Gettysburg, PA, (717) The web site also has information on these agencies: Adams County Office of Planning and Development Adams County Tax Services Office Penn State Extension in Adams County or Adams County Conservation District Adams County Department of Emergency Services Penn Dot District 8 Road Maintenance

16 16 Produced and distributed by: Penn State Extension in Adams County 670 Old Harrisburg Road, Suite 204 Gettysburg, PA Phone: or Fax: In cooperation with: Gettysburg Adams Chamber of Commerce 1382 Biglerville Road Gettysburg, PA Phone: Fax: Realtors Association of York & Adams County, Inc. 901 Smile Way York, PA Phone: Fax: Land Conservancy of Adams County 670 Old Harrisburg Road Gettysburg, PA Phone: (717) Fax: (717) Adams County Office of Planning & Development 19 Baltimore Street, Suite 101 Gettysburg, PA Phone: Adams County Farmers Market Association, Inc. PO Box 3224 Gettysburg, PA